BC Ferries has launched a public engagement on its future plans for Horseshoe Bay terminal.
An upgrade at Horseshoe Bay is seen, along with the project already underway at Langdale, as a key step in improving service on the Langdale route.
Mark Wilson, vice president of strategy and community engagement said in a release announcing the start of the engagement that “redeveloping the terminal will support growth in the region and improve the service to meet the emerging and future transportation needs of our customers.”
Ferries said the Horseshoe Bay terminal is at capacity and some of the infrastructure will soon be in need of replacement.
“This visioning process is the first of three phases of terminal redevelopment,” the company said in its release. “It will be followed by involving communities in a detailed design process over the next two to four years. The redevelopment construction is expected to begin immediately after that.”
Diana Mumford, chair of the Southern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee, said, “This visioning process will ensure any future redevelopment takes into consideration the voices and needs of the communities the terminal serves, and we look forward to being part of the process and providing our feedback.”
Last April, the federal government pledged $60.5 million for BC Ferries terminal upgrades and vessel replacements, including about $17 million for Langdale.
It was the first time federal infrastructure funding had been granted to BC Ferries.
In an interview with Coast Reporter last week, West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky MP Pam Goldsmith Jones said she would support Ottawa coming to the table with support for the Horseshoe Bay project, which BC Ferries has estimated will cost about $250 million.
“There’s no question that transportation infrastructure investment is a key priority for our government,” she said.
BC Ferries has set up a web page for the engagement at: www.bcferries.com/about/hsbvision.
